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For over the past month, Death Cab for Cutie have been on the road across North America promoting their new album, I Built You a Tower. Along the way, they were joined by Japanese Breakfast, Jay Som, and for this final stretch of shows, Nation of Language opened the show. I made my way south to San Diego to catch the show in the heart of Downtown at Petco Park's Gallagher Square, and didn't leave disappointed. 

Nation of Language hit the stage around 7. I was familiar with the name but not familiar with the music, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. What the trio delivered were a number of dreamy 80s influenced synth-wave bops reminiscent of Talk Talk, The Human League, and New Order. Vocalist, Ian Richard Devaney's performance and stage presence elevated the dreamlike softness of their music to a resounding din. Nation of Language released their 4th full length, Dance Called Memory, last year, but the track that stuck out the most to me was the hauntingly mellow, "Weak in Your Light" from their 2023 release Strange Disciple. I look forward to hearing more.

Death Cab made their way to the stage at 8 once the lights went out and the projection wall along the back began to illuminate. They jumped right into the lead single from I Built You a Tower, "Riptides" -- an appropriate way to open a show happening just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the ocean. They followed it up with "Roman Candles" from their critically acclaimed 2022 release, Asphalt Meadows. It was the only track they played from the album, which was a surprise since it seemed like that album brought the band back into the limelight. However, their goal was clear: try to cater to fans old and new while promoting their new record. The bulk of the set was I Built You a Tower, covering about three quarters of the album. Some of the new songs really benefit from the live setting. "Stone Over Water" sounded more full and robust rather than the somewhat tired and thin offering from the studio recordings. The already pulsating "How Heavenly a State" gets a little extra oomph from bassist Nick Harmer's performance. The rhythm section on title track, "I Built You a Tower" gets thrown into the mix a little more that gives the song more propulsion. In my opinion, live is the best way to experience the already excellent album. 

They still broke out fan favorites and hits like "The New Year" and "The Sound of Settling" from Transatlanticism. During Ben's intimate solo performance of "I Will Follow You Into the Dark," he asked the audience to take over vocal duties on the penultimate chorus to which the crowd graciously accepted. They snuck in oldies from their first two LPs -- "Your Bruise" from their debut album, Something About Airplanes, and "Company Calls" from We Have the Facts... with a preamble noting that this was the largest San Diego show they've ever played and a shout out to local punk club The Casbah. 

Death Cab for Cutie have been at this for nearly 30 years and they are still performing with the same enthusiasm and drive that you'll find in 20-something up-and-comers looking to make a name for themselves. It's hard not to be captivated. The US tour is all but finished with just a show in San Francisco and a festival date in Seattle remaining. After that, the band will be globetrotting hitting up the UK and Europe, then heading to Japan before finishing off the tour in Australia. If you're in the markets, don't miss the show!

Amyl and The Sniffers @ The RBC Amphitheatre
Toronto, ON, CA
June 4, 2026

Amyl and The Sniffers Live Review – 2026 North American Tour

When you go for the opening band and get completely blown away by the headliner! That is exactly what happened to me on June 4, 2026, at the RBC Amphitheatre in Toronto, Canada.

As many fans may know, L7 is preparing for their farewell tour and is currently opening for Amyl and the Sniffers. Being a longtime fan of L7, I naturally bought a ticket to see them, and they absolutely did not disappoint. I managed to secure a front-row spot at the barrier to make sure I had the best view possible. Aside from hearing the name Amyl and the Sniffers in passing, I knew very little about them. Before the show started, I noticed a message displayed on the screens about mosh pit etiquette, which gave me a bit of uncertainty about what I was in for.

The moment Amy Taylor stepped onto the stage and addressed the crowd, the audience erupted. The energy was immediate and contagious. The mosh pit sprang to life almost instantly and didn't let up until the very last song.

I was completely captivated by their raw, old-school punk sound and the intensity they brought to the stage. Even more impressive was seeing how enthusiastically the younger generation responded to it. It instantly transported me back to my own teenage years.

As the set went on, I realized I actually knew two of their songs, which was a pleasant surprise. Even when I didn't know the material, it didn't matter. Their music is infectious, easy to get into, and Amy Taylor is simply mesmerizing to watch. Her stage presence, vocals, and nonstop energy make for an unforgettable performance.

What started as a night out to see one of my favorite bands turned into discovering a new one. Amyl and the Sniffers left me wanting more, and I can't wait for the chance to see them again.

There seems to be a growing wave of Australian bands making their way to North America, and I’m absolutely loving it!

If you haven’t discovered them yet, enjoy this sneak peek vide here 

Setlist:
1. Control
2. It's Mine
3. U Should Not Be Doing That
4. Motorbike Song
5. Balaclava Lover Boogie
6. Guided by Angels
7. Chewing Gum
8. Freaks to the Front
9. Do It Do It
10. Security
11. Bailing on Me
12. Tiny Bikini
13. Big Dreams
14. Facts
15. Gacked on Anger
16. Shake Ya
17. Me and The Girls
18. Starfire 500
19. Doing in Me Head
20. Knifey
21. Don't Need a Cunt (Like You to Love Me)
22. Some Mutts (Can't Be Muzzled)
23. Jerkin'
24. Hertz

Encore:
25. Got You
26. GFY

All photos by @front.row.fans

Poison the Well and Converge just rounded out their North American tour. Both bands are out promoting new albums. Poison the Well put out their first new studio album in 17 years this past March entitled Peace in Place. Meanwhile, Converge are out supporting not 1 but 2 new albums -- Love is Not Enough released this past February and Hum of Hurt is slated to be released in just a couple of weeks on June 5th. Joining the duo for this leg of the tour were The Barbarians of California who have been putting out a steady stream or new tracks recently and The Armed who have been pushing their 2025 album The Future is Here and Everything Needs to be Destroyed. Together these groups have put together one of the best metalcore/heavy music tours of the year.

I showed up not long after Barbarians of California took the stage. Their brand of a thrashy blend of hardcore and metal was a feast for the early attendees. Following was "The greatest band in the world" The Armed. I was familiar but had not delved deep into the band after all these years. I was blown away! The band's unpredictability and onslaught of hardcore music mixed with experimental elements was giving me a sensory overload. The stage presence was reminiscent of earlier Dillinger Escape Plan and Blood Brothers shows. The vocalist would constantly throw the mic out to the crowd for anyone that knew the lyrics. Even handing off the guitar at one point to a fan on the barricade. Needless to say, they showed why they are deemed "The greatest band in the world." 

Next up were heavy music legends, Converge. The band never ceases to amaze after decades of performing. I'm unsure how front man, Jacob Bannon, is still able to scream and growl the way he does over the years. The band ran through a number of tracks from their new album, Love is Not Enough, including opening the set with the title track and "Bad Faith" back-to-back before a taste of You Fail Me with "Eagles Become Vultures." Bannon introduced their new song "Doom in Bloom" from Hum of Hurt by mentioning the struggles he goes through from the loss of others and how his mind goes to a dark place. For the older fans in the crowd, the band played "Conduit" from Forever Came Crashing but of course the crowd went nuts for Jane Doe tracks "The Broken Vow" and when they ended the set with "Concubine."

Poison the Well closed out the night. The band walked out to the Geto Boys' "Still" before jumping into "Botchla" from their sophomore album Tear From the Red. The crowd erupted as Moreira switched from the soft crooning opening to the guttural screams. During "Thoroughbreds" from the bands new album Peace in Place, the fans made it apparent they weren't just there for the old stuff by singing along or moshing in one of the few pits scattered on the floor. Poison the Well are aware of the affinity of their older albums though and continued to run through tracks from their debut album The Opposite of December and You Come Before You while avoiding anything from  2009's The Tropic Rot entirely and only playing "Letter Thing" from Versions. The entire floor turned into a pit when they closed out the night with fan favorite "Nerdy." During the song's esteemed breakdown, a flurry of crowd surfers made their way to the front where Moreira had joined the fans.

The entire night was a powerhouse of heavy music. The audience has grown older, but there is still a spark of youthfulness when a couple of the best bands in their genre come together to remind the fans what it was like to be young. After 20 plus years, Converge and Poison the Well are still putting out music that overshadows their disciples and putting on some of the best hardcore performances you can see. Converge will be heading to Europe in June while Poison the Well are heading to Japan and then Australia. If you find either in your neck of the woods, be sure not to miss them. 

The Menzingers have been touring across America and recently made their way West with I Am the Avalanche. The band is currently ramping up to release a new album later this year, so I guess you could consider this a warm-up tour. The tour rolled through The Glass House, so naturally, I didn't want to miss it. 

After 6 years, I Am the Avalanche are gearing up to release their new album, The Horrow Show on April 10th and have been using this tour to try out the new material. The band has already released a couple of tracks from their upcoming album including the title track, but they snuck in a couple extras from the new record. One song entitled "I Miss California and Every Dog I've Ever Met" and "Alive on 14th Street." After over 20 years, I Am the Avalanche have amassed their own following, and they showed up to sing along. It's not often that you hear a large chunk of the crowd singing along to the openers, but The Glass House made sure to give them a warm welcome when the band jumped into favorites like "I Took a Beating" from their debut LP and "Brooklyn Dodgers" from their critically acclaimed Avalanche United. After spending most of the night tromping around and interacting with the crowd from the stage, vocalist Vinnie Caruana decided to jump down to the barricade to sing along with the fans towards the end of the set. 

Next up were The Menzingers. I've lost count of how many times I've seen The Menzingers over the years, but it's been enough to have grown accustomed to them walking out to The Ramones' "Do You Wanna Dance?" Imagine my surprise when Dire Straits' "Walk of Life" starts blaring from the speakers. The band jumps into "America (You're Freaking Me Out)." An appropriate kick off to the set as headlines continue to get flooded with unfathomable headlines daily. The Menzingers continue to maintain a set of fan favorites from After the Party and On The Impossible Past, with those two albums occupying half of the setlist. The other half was a smattering of Hello Exile, tracks from their latest album, Some of it Was True like "Hope is a Dangerous Little Thing, " "Try" and "There's No Place in This World For Me." 

The band is also playing their newest single, "Nobody's Heroes," which was just released a little over a month ago. The personal highlight for me was when the band broke out a Chamberlain Waits classic, "I Was Born." Ultimately, anything pre-On the Impossible Past has been absent from their sets for the past couple of album cycles, so it was nice to see them revisit it. It didn't feel out of place amongst their later evolved sound. We were almost lucky enough to get "Irish Goodbyes," another pre-OTIP track, when it was put to a vote against "Casey" and "Your Wild Years." The crowd opted for "Casey," which was undeniably the right choice. The Menzingers finished out the night with "Lookers" and Rented World's "In Remission," which has become the band's closing staple. 

While this is a Menzingers headlining tour, having support from I Am the Avalanche makes it a pulse-pounding pairing on equal footing. Both bands put on strong and entertaining performances. Whether it's Vinnie Caruana stomping around the stage or Tom May pogo-ing back and forth nonstop for an hour. There are only a few dates left, but don't miss out if it strolls through a town nearby.

The Boys Ignite Toronto at the Horseshoe Tavern — March 13, 2026

Toronto’s miserable March chill didn’t stand a chance against the sweat, noise, and electricity inside the Horseshoe Tavern as fans packed shoulder to shoulder, awaiting a true punk institution. One voice rang out from the crowd declaring that “To Hell With The Boys” was the greatest LP ever released. The anticipation was electric — a mix of longtime devotees and newcomers eager to witness a band whose legacy stretches back to punk’s explosive beginnings.

Casino Steel, unfortunately, had to sit this one out due to medical reasons, but Matt Dangerfield stepped up to help fill the void. The Boys had arrived the night before after a layover in Iceland. After refuelling with a fine Indian meal, they hit the stage just after 10 p.m. Blistering opening sets from Danny Laj & The Looks and Hamilton punk extraordinaire Gene Champagne had thoroughly primed the crowd.

From the first chord, The Boys reminded Toronto why they remain essential to punk rock. Their performance was a perfect storm of melodic hooks, punchy riffs, and tightly crafted songs that linger in your brain long after the amps cool down. As Dangerfield reflected in a recent interview, “The songs keep coming,” and last night they poured into every corner of the room with undeniable intensity.

The concert flowed through a majority of The Boys’ best-known classics, including TCP, Terminal Love, USI, Cop Cars, Tumble With Me (with a nod to Andrew Matheson), Brickfield Nights, and First Time. Each song was delivered with a mix of precision and reckless joy that had the crowd singing along, pogoing, and fully immersed in the moment. The night closed with a blistering finale of Sick on You, which sparked a small mosh pit in the center of the floor.

One memorable moment included a shout-out to Andrew Matheson, connecting Toronto’s audience to the wider punk family while acknowledging Matheson’s Canadian heritage and the influence of his band, the Hollywood Brats. There was also a touching nod to the late Honest John Plain, whose passing still weighs heavily on fans.

Throughout the set, The Boys balanced melody, showmanship, and finesse. As Dangerfield once said, “We never grew out of the punk energy — we just got better at channelling it.” That energy was palpable in every riff, chorus, and shared glance with the audience. Even decades into their career, they still command the stage like a band at the top of its game. It’s easy to imagine that Dangerfield and Steel carefully selected newer members of the band to continue carrying the flag.

This wasn’t just nostalgia — it was living punk history. Formed in London in 1976, The Boys were among the first wave of British punk bands and notably the first of that generation to secure a full album deal. Their hook-filled approach helped shape the melodic side of punk, and that same spirit was alive on stage in Toronto.

Having only played one previous Canadian gig — a festival stop in Montreal — The Boys clearly appreciated the warm reception. Thanks to Bob Muck Productions, Toronto was treated to an unforgettable night. From the energy in the pit to dancing fans singing along, The Boys’ legacy was alive and kicking.

P.S. — Come back.

All photos by @front.row.fans